Circles of Support and Accountability (Circles) build safer communities through local volunteers working with sex offenders to minimise alienation, support reintegration and so prevent sexual reoffending.

We live in a society where sexual abuse provokes powerful responses within communities. The successful rehabilitation and reintegration of a sex offender requires consideration of their own needs, the victim’s needs and those of the community.

A ’Circle of Support and Accountability’ is a group of Volunteers from a local community which forms a Circle around an offender. In Circles, the sex offender is referred to as the 'Core Member'. Each Circle consists of four to six Volunteers and a Core Member.

It aims to provide a supportive social network that also requires the Core Member to take responsibility (be ‘accountable’) for his/her ongoing risk management. The Circle can also provide support and practical guidance in such things as developing their social skills, finding suitable accommodation or helping the Core Member to find appropriate hobbies and interests.

Gerry re-joined the Board of Trustees in 2013 and became Chair in November 2013. Previously Gerry was Chief Executive of Thames Valley Probation from 2001 to 2012, was the Probation Chief’s Association lead for Restorative Justice and Diversity and Equality, and was on the Equalities Board for NOMS and Thames Valley Police. Gerry worked as a subject matter expert for MTCnovo in their successful bid to run the Community Rehabilitation Companies in London and Thames Valley under the Transforming Rehabilitation programme. Currently Gerry is a Trustee of the Howard League for Penal Reform, an adviser to the Tutu Foundation UK, an assessor with the Restorative Justice Council for the Restorative Service Quality Mark, and an associate consultant for Leadership Insight. Since 2016 Gerry has been a non-executive director of Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

The Circles service has attracted growing appreciation as more have heard about our work. In a challenging and difficult subject such as reducing sexual reoffending we are delighted to be able to provide the following commendations:

Contact Us

Confidentiality statement

Circles UK, as the umbrella charity for Circles Projects across England Wales can provide information on the availability of Circles across England and Wales and how to volunteer for our work. Circles UK itself does not provide advice or counselling. In a situation when anyone contacting us provides identifying information and raises our concerns that a child is at risk, or a criminal offence has been committed of which the police may be unaware, we will pass that information onto the appropriate agencies.